Need quick opinions on SR Monties!

[3Deserts]

If it holds up to scrutiny, quick opinion on this:

1996 single owner SR, original California vehicle, supposedly meticulously maintained (photo of front leather suggests it's true), no accidents, seller sounds thorough and sincere, and can probably push their asking price of $4,300 down...but....BUT: 225,000 miles.

Should I be scared?

Next candidate:

1997 SR, originally from Georgia, spent some time on the east coast, and made it's way here. It's at a dealer (ugh), looks very clean via extensive photos, scores hi on Carfax (no issues or accidents); asking $5,995, and it has 134,000 miles.

Third candidate:

1996 SR; looks pretty clean; three owners, doesn't blow smoke on cold starts, owner/private no-lot dealer seems honest and straightforward, offering me to bring my own mechanic; no accidents (verified), does seem to have a history of a little trouble passing emissions, 164,000 miles; will probably settle for $3,300.

Test drives will obviously be a major factor, but even if the $6k example is the better example, I'm not sure I want to spend close to that.

I'm off to inspect and drive shortly. But, knowing nothing else, which seems the best Monty? You guys have already been an immense help and I value the opinions a lot.

Thanks guys!

 

[Monterorider]

Go for the middle one. Bring $4000 in cash to dealer. Don't give him a dime more. He'll take it. If he doesn't walk away. With gas prices rising and winter behind us selling 14 year old SUVs for top $$$$ will be harder and harder.

 

[3Deserts]

That was my gut feeling as well.

As it happens, that one sold out from under me; guy had put a deposit down the evening before and came back with $5,500.

I checked out all three. Mixed bag.

My overarching feeling is that most people's idea of "very clean" is not my idea of very clean. Smelly, sticky, dirty carpets and leather and stained headliners does not really feel like "very clean" to me. Fine if people want to reassure me that a good detailing will fix that up, but then why not do that BEFORE showing a vehicle? [sigh]

Questions, for those who can bear it:

Is the 'wheel-drive mode status illuminated diagram thingy' on the dash supposed to only illuminate the RR wheel when in 2H mode? They all did that. They also all had a weird delay in changing visual status from CDL lock to CD Unlocked, even after I'd adjusted the TR knob and confirmed through feeling the way the vehicle handled that the CDL had been disengaged.

In some cases, the RDL didn't work at all. In others, it made an alarming air compressor racket, but worked nicely. All, to varying degrees of difficulty, got in to the various 4WD modes.

All in all, a very frustrating, tiring day.

That said, I can look past the troubles on the day, and recognize that this vehicle is awesomely well suited to serious off road travel. Holy smokes it's amazing!

Now I just need to find a good one.

I'm considering going slightly up market and checking out a single owner, 61,000 mile 1998 with the required packages. I prefer the earlier body style, but I'm hoping it's genuinely clean and scent free. If it was just me, I could handle it--maybe. But I don't want to carry my pre-preschool aged son in a vehicle filled with who knows what in the way of gross crap hidden in corners.

Wow...I'm just thinking out loud here at this point. Very frustrating search...

 

[Clem]

Thank you for sharing the results of your search. I've been looking at gen 2.5's for awhile now and have come to similar conclusions. I think you are referring to the silver 98 at a dealer in Buena Park. If so, I would be really curious of the actual condition of the vehicle. From the pictures on their website (not the one's on AutoTrader) it looks like the roof paint is pealing and there are brown stains around the edges of the carpeting in the drivers area and the rear. Also the carpeting in the rear doesn't appear to be installed properly. Has me thinking there has been a lot of water in the vehicle and they were trying to dry out the carpet. Let us know how it goes.

 

[3Deserts]

Well I'll be damned. Good eye. I think I read that as reflection at first but indeed, from other angles, the peeling is still apparent. Thanks for noting that.

The carpet is a harder call. It certainly looks better than most I saw this weekend. Where the CD changer is? That's markedly cleaner than anything I saw.

I think I'll have to pass on this too then. I can't abide that kind of wear.

On a side note, I have noticed a suspiciously high number of '90s Mitsus with peeling paint. I'm wondering if they spec'd a clear coat that has proved to be less than tough enough over a decade or more.

 

[3Deserts]

A local 1994 SR popped up.

Can anyone quickly tell me if the '94s have the adjustable suspension? I liked that aspect of the other ones I drove.

Any other differences I should expect between a 1994 SR and the '95-'96 SRs, or similarly equipped '97s-98s?

 

[off-roader]

Yes they do.

Not too much between 94 & 95 IIRC...

My 96SR adds a passenger air bag and OBDII which are significant changes IMHO.

97 and up drop the more powerful dohc 3.5L design in favor of a simpler but slightly less powerful sohc 3.5L design.

Also, the SR designation is dropped sometime after 97. You have to search for the 'Winter Package' and confirm the presence of a locking rear diff.

In either 97 or 98 they also went to a 4.2x:1 r&p ratio over the 4.6x:1 r&p ratio. For off road use, the lower geared 4.6x:1 is preferred for added power/torque improvements.

 

[3Deserts]

Thanks; that's good news.

I really liked the adjustability of those shocks; I wouldn't want to lose it.

A second SR turned up for sale last night as well, so hopefully I can check that one out too. I don't know much about it yet, but I do know that they just had the timing belt replaced, so that's a plus.

 

[3Deserts]

Here we go again; round...3...4?

1997 SR, second owner with all records and receipts including invoice for purchase in 1997. Timing belt and other preventative maintenance just completed; no accidents, uses and asserts all 4WD modes work, native CA vehicle, non-smoker, leather a bit worn but owner asserts it's otherwise clean; decent paint with some desert pinstriping (standard issue on my other off road vehicles so I'm not concerned), confirmed RD lock and adjustable suspension, everything works (including sun roof--of which none of the others I've seen can be said), asking $3,500 and has already said cash in hand can push it lower. The big red flag for me is mileage: about 225,000.

Should I be concerned about the mileage if everything else checks out?

I have to say that it's very reassuring being able to find out the history, and knowing the timing belt and other odds and ends have been done. NONE of the other ones I've looked at thus far--nor the other '94 I'll hopefully see tomorrow--can say that.

If the leather sucks, does anyone have any idea how hard it is to find good seats in an otherwise scrapped SR?

 

[Silverwulf]

If your ok with the Hx of the truck and plan to keep it for some time, then the milage doesn't really matter. Most of my vehicles are high milage because I commute a long way. If they are maintained and not abused they will last.

Some people freak at 100k mi, others freak at 200k. There isn't some designated milage that a car just gives up the ghost. It usualy when a lot of little things start to fail at the same time.

If its clean with records and it drives right, $3K cash and be happy with it.:smiley_drive:

 

[3Deserts]

Ugh...huge fail.

This is getting so discouraging.

Mechanically it was okay, but holy mother of broken vehicles was it a mess inside.

I really am starting to wonder if the English I speak isn't the English these people selling their fifteen year old SUVs speak. It's like, the words have actual different meanings.

Me: "Very clean" means no rips, tears, egregious stains, matted carpet, seat back panels detaching, passenger front seats with fist sized pieces of padding ripped out of a hole the size of a softball, missing controls, detached wires, PLASTIC left side rear view mirror (I mean the actual what-once-was-glass mirror), an inexplicable square hole cut in the back of the back seat, streaked and discolored headliner, and a weird odor. Minor fading and light wear on carpets okay.

Them: "Very clean" means rips, tears, egregious stains, matted carpet, seat back panels detaching, passenger front seats with fist sized pieces of padding ripped out of a hole the size of a softball, missing controls, detached wires, PLASTIC left side rear view mirror (I mean the actual what-once-was-glass mirror), an inexplicable square hole cut in the back of the back seat, streaked and discolored headliner, and a weird odor.

Clearly, the words do not mean what I think they mean.

 

[off-roader]

Sounds like someone who thinks salesmanship=lie, cheat, steal to get the sale...